Wire-line clamp



Dec-25 1923. 0

V E. c. GILLIAM WIRE LINE CLAMP Filed March 24. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z: a gym/W;

INVENTOR a wayz WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

' t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE CARL GILLIAM, OF WARNER, OKLAHOMA.

WIRE-LINE CLAMP.

Application filed March 24, 1923. Serial No. 627,418.

.of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to well drilling devices, particularly to clamps, and has for its object the provision of a novel wire line clamp which will automatically acquire its gripping action when a. strain is applied to the device, the construction being such that the greater the strain the greater will be the gripping action of a pair of clamping jaws.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character in which means is provided for adjusting the" jaws toward or away from each other so that they will effectively grip or olampthe cables or wire lines of different diameters orso that, the device will be moresensitivepthat is so that it will grip more or less quickly dependent uponthe varying conditions under which it ma be used. l i v I 11, additional object is the provision of a a device ofithis character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install, .simple inoperation, highly ef- 30:-

.improvement in the art. I 7

- i With the above and other objects and adficient andidurablef inyserviceand a general vantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter ,morefully describedand claimed and illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, in whichz i Figural isa front elevationof my device showing. it associated with a wire a "drillmg machine, s

Figure 2 1s a planv ew,

line of Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view,

Figure 4 1s a cross sectional view at right angles to F1gure3,

Figure 5 is a detailsectional-view showling the'movable. arm and associated parts,

I Figure 6 is a detail section through the body. Q I I Referring to the drawings 1 have shown my device ascomprising abody 1 0,of subst antially semi-circular or .U-shape including arms 11 and 12; The arm. 11 constitutes one rigid element of the device. Pivoted upon substantially the-bight portion of the body lOas shown at:13 is amovableelement 14 1 arranged. opposite'to; and cooperating with and 14 are further recessed as indicated at 17 for the reception of coiled springs 18 which engage projections upon the clamping vmembers 16 whereby to normally urge thev clamping members 16 upwardly so that they will be in non-gripping relation to the cable or wire A The confronting faces of the clamping members 16 are recessed or cut away along curved lines as indicated at 19 so that they may more effectively clamp or grip the member A. The upper ends of the members 16 are formed with rectangular recesses 20 for a purpose to be described.

The upper ends of the arm-11 and the movable member 14 are formed with upstanding cars 21 in which are pivoted, asshown at 23, levers 24 which have their inner ends engaged within the openings 20 in themembers 16. Pivotally connected 'with the outer ends of the levers 24, as indicated at25 are upwardly extending slotted links 26 which serve as suspension means; for the entire clampingdevice as willbe apparent.

. Threaded through the arm; 12 of the body 10 is an adjusting screwy27- having an en-' larged head 28 and havingits free end 29 swivelly connected with the pivoted mem- 3 her 14. By adjusting the screw 27 it will I be apparent that the member 14 may be swung upon its pivot 13 so a's to bring the 'members 16 morev or .less .close vtogether ;to grip the cable or wire member A more or less quickly and with less necessary movement of the movable parts of the device.

ing a head 30 having inclined sides which In order to hold the slips 16 down. 1. pro- I will conform to the direction of upward movement of the slips so that regardless of the position of the slips this head will slightly overlap theadiacent edges thereofatthe rear. These edges of the slipsare formed with notches 31.0f a ratchet nature with which 'the' 'head 30 oo operates 'and this head has a beveled end'32 for interfitting engage ment within the notches. A spring 38 surrounds the stem and-abutsatonejend-against the member 10 and at its other end against a stop pin 34: for the purpose of urgingr'thiss latch normally into engagement with the V ratchet notches. Theothere'nd-of the stem 29 projects beyond the member 10 and is pivoted at 35 within a recess in a cam" lever 36. When the slips are pressed down and the drawings, with the clampingmembers 16 disposed upon oppositesi'desofthe cable or wire A whenan upward pull is exerted upon the links 26; or'when the weight of the device is allowed to pull upon the linl'z's 26, it will. be apparent thatthe levers Qtxvill 'rock'upon theirpi'vots, '23 and thiswill of course result in forcing the clamping members 16 downwardly. Owing tothe inclination oftheconfronting faces ofth'e members 11 and 14, it willfbe "quite obvious that as the clamping members "16 are forced downwardly they will be moved. together and then theyiwill naturally gripagainst opposite sides of the cable orwireA. From the foregoing. description, and a study of the" drawings it" will be apparent that I'have thus provided a very simply const'rnctedand consequently inexpensive clamping device f'the characterand; for theizpurpose specifiedl. which "will' very efiiciently ')eI'f6Il" 1 1 the fiin ctions for which it tended and wh ch s, moreover adjustable to meet-varying conditions 1n use,

While, I' have shown and described the preferred? embodiment of" the invention; it is of; course tobe understood that I reserve the right td makesuch changes inthe form, construction and arrangement of parts as willnot depart from the spirit ofthe invention:or thescopeof the. subj oin'ed clainis.

claimed is: a i I v a I, device of the character described Comprising a substantially U-shaped bod'y a member pivotal-1y connected with said body at -a, point spaced from the center of the tight portionthereof'; the; confronting} faces Having described "the invention what. is

oifmsaid memberjand theopposite arm of the bfi'ing formed. with grooves having'inchned walls converging'downwardly, screw 'e'n'd of said clampingmemhers said clamping the"? grooves, springs normally urgin the clamping members upwardly, the confrontinghacesof' said clamping members being curved for substantially conforming engagement upon the cable orthe like; the? upper bein formed with openings," levers pivoted upon the upper end of said first named arnif and said movable member and having their inner ends engaged within the" openings in: said clan'ip'ingn'i'en'ibers and slotted suspension links pivetally connected with the outer ends of said-levers; I

2. A device" of the character described comprising a substantiallyu sh'ap'ed body; a

. member pivot/ally connected with body at a point spaced from the center of the biht portion thereof, the confronting; faces of said" member anflthe OFPOSit'e' a'rIfi of-the body being 'fbr'med with ooves h'a-virig inclined walls converging downwardly; screw means passing through the other arm o'fthe body and? engaging said pivoted member whereby to" vary the position; or the" latter with respect? to the-' first mentioned arm, clamping members slidably enga edflwithi-n the grooves,- springs normally ufiging" the clampingmembers upwardly; the confronting faces of said clamping members Being curved for substantially conformingengagement upon the cable or the like; the upper ends-of said clamping members being formed with openings; levers pivoted upon the upper end of said first named an said movable member and having' th 15innerj 'end's engaged within the peningsiin Ii'ieinbefs'- s'lbtted suspension links. piv ts y contested with the outer ends ofs'aid levers; the upper end of' the first named arm oi' thehody and the spear end of the said movable memberliei'n'g Formed" with s aced? upstanding care" between which saiid levers are?pivotetli 3. A device of the character described comprising a substantially u shaped body, a member" pivotailyconnected? with-1 said bodyadj'acent thejiincture d'h'oh'e ar'ni' with the. bight portion thereofi the confronting face of said member and the confronting face of the other arm being inclined and converging downwardly; means" for swinging said movable member upon, its: pivot whereby to; move itore or'less close to the second named arn i, vertically; slidabie clamping members guidablyflznova ble along the confronting faces of'said movable'm'elnbeir and said second' namedarrn', leve1s--pivot'ally connected with" said: body and widthv said movable member and connected with" the u er ends of the clamping manners,

and

and suspension means connected with the outer ends of said levers, and means for holding said clamping member against slidable movement.

t. A device of the character described comprising a substantially U-shaped body, a member pivo-tally connected with said body adjacent the juncture of one arm with the bight portion thereof, the confronting face of said member and the confronting face of the other arm being inclined and converging downwardly, means for swinging said movable member upon its pivot whereby to move it more or less close to the second named arm, vertically slidable clamping members guidably movable along the confronting faces of said movable memher and said second named arm, levers pivotally connected with said body and with said movable member and connected with the upper ends of the clamping members, and suspension means connected with the outer ends of said levers, and means for holding said clamping member against slidable movement, consisting of a spring pressed latch normally co-operating with ratchet notches formed in the rear sides of said clamping members.

5. A device of the character described comprising a substantially U-shaped body, a member pivotally connected with said body adjacent the juncture of one arm with the b ight portion thereof, the confronting face of said member and the confronting face of the other arm being inclined and converging downwardly, means for swinging said movable member upon its pivot whereby to move it more or less close to the second named arm, vertically slidable clamp ing members guidably movable along the confronting faces of said movable member and said second named arm, levers pivotally connected with said body and with said movable member and connected with the upper ends of the clamping members, and suspension means connected with the outer ends of said levers, and means for holding said clamping member against slidable movement, consisting of a spring pressed latch normally co-operating with ratchet notches formed in the rear sides of said clamping members, said latch carrying a cam lever movable to control the position of the latch.

'In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EUGENE CARL GILLIAM. 

